With no other option, only Lin Runxin’s wood-type ability could retrieve energy that had already been released. Qin Ze’s metal ability and Zhou Wenqian’s water ability were both the type that could only be released outward.
Nan Fei merely smiled without explaining the principle.
She didn’t trust this group, and more importantly, Zhou Wenqian—who had a grudge against her—was the last person she would willingly enlighten.
In fact, retrieving released abilities was quite simple.
Take Qin Ze’s metal ability as an example: if he could directly form blades from his body, then he also had the ability to dissolve those blades back into liquid metal. After that, it could be turned into mist and reabsorbed into his body.
Yu Yang didn’t press further. His gaze shifted from Nan Fei’s dagger to Qin Ze’s two metal blades, as if observing whether Qin Ze would voluntarily return them.
His meaning was obvious, and Nan Fei noticed it as well.
Her calm eyes landed on Qin Ze. “You can return what belongs to me now.”
Hearing this, Qin Ze handed the blade back without hesitation.
Nan Fei took it, clearly sensing his cold indifference.
Was it because of the metal blade?
She didn’t think so.
Still, she accepted the weapon and then heard Qin Ze speak.
“We already ate the chocolate. If you want something, I can compensate you.”
This sentence made everyone’s expressions turn complicated.
After all, he was the one who had abandoned her first, and the one who took the food without hesitation.
Now suddenly offering compensation—no matter how you looked at it, it felt strange. Especially in a supermarket like this, Nan Fei could simply take whatever she wanted.
Seeing their reactions, Nan Fei understood immediately.
The one who decided to take all her supplies was Qin Ze.
But as nominal fiancé and fiancée, he hadn’t left her even a single piece of chocolate—clearly assuming she wouldn’t survive.
Thinking of this, Nan Fei didn’t hold back.
“Simple. Make me another metal blade.”
In the apocalypse, weapons were never too many.
This time, Qin Ze didn’t negotiate like before. He didn’t even ask for the length and directly forged one identical to the one she already had.
Seeing how effortlessly he did it, Nan Fei raised a brow. “You’re Level 3?”
Everyone around them sucked in a breath.
Qin Ze’s hand paused slightly as he handed over the blade, but he didn’t deny it.
Nan Fei didn’t think he had simply slipped up.
Based on his reaction when his level was first exposed, he clearly didn’t want others to know.
So why reveal it this time?
From the others’ reactions, they didn’t seem to know.
That meant the person he wanted to know was her.
If he wanted everyone to know, he could have simply said it after leveling up—there was no need to wait for her to ask.
So why?
And why even give her a slightly better blade than expected?
She had originally assumed he would only give her something half as good.
Unable to figure it out, she shifted her thoughts.
Qin Ze’s leveling speed was too fast.
The highest-level zombies she had encountered were only Level 2, yet he was already Level 3.
Could humans really level faster than zombies?
Logically, no. Zombies could evolve by eating humans or other zombies even without crystals.
Unless… he had obtained a large number of crystals.
Her gaze drifted toward the nearby corpses.
But in the novel, Level 0 zombies shouldn’t have crystals.
The others were still watching her. Nan Fei took the blade and tucked it at her waist.
Then she looked around the supermarket, which was in a state of disarray, and asked casually, “Has anyone here awakened spatial ability?”
The group exchanged glances. Qin Ze understood her implication but said nothing. It was Lin Runxin who answered.
“No. It was already like this when we arrived.”
Nan Fei nodded. “Maybe a spatial ability user passed through here earlier.”
“I’m hungry. I’ll go find something to eat first. Are you in a rush to leave?”
“No rush. We just got here too.”
Only then did Nan Fei push a shopping cart toward the snack aisle.
Although she already had a space filled with supplies, in front of them she still appeared to have nothing except her blade.
She picked out snacks she liked—mainly filling foods—and even grabbed a bag of shrimp chips.
When she returned, she tore open the bag and ate while heading toward the household goods section.
There were backpacks there.
She pretended to browse casually before walking in with a surprised expression.
“Come here, there are backpacks!”
Everyone quickly gathered. Previously, they had only used makeshift bags formed from shopping bags.
Now that proper backpacks were available, of course they were better for carrying supplies.
Nan Fei took a black one, leaving the rest for them.
She had counted beforehand—just enough for one each.
She carried her backpack back to the food she had chosen and sat directly on the cashier counter.
Eat first, pack later.
“Need help?” Lin Runxin asked.
Nan Fei glanced at him; he had already finished packing his own items, so she didn’t refuse.
“Sure, thanks.”
Lin Runxin happily went to help.
Nan Fei continued eating shrimp chips.
Half an hour later, everyone finished packing and sat on the counter to rest.
“Want instant noodles?” Nan Fei asked, looking at Yu Hong and Yu Yang, who were holding buckets of noodles. She had intentionally left them so she could also eat openly.
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The two answered at the same time.
Zhou Wenqian tactfully came over and asked where to pour the water.
Nan Fei looked at Yu Yang. “There are pots and bowls over there—just don’t take plastic ones.”
Yu Yang quickly ran to fetch them.
He returned with several large metal bowls.
Nan Fei took one, and Zhou Wenqian poured water into it.
The bowl filled with water rested in her palm.
No flame was visible, yet the water inside began to heat up.
“Done,” Nan Fei said, holding it out.
Yu Yang reached out to take it, thinking she meant for him to hold it, but she dodged.
“It’s hot.”
“It’s fine, it’s just boiling water.”
“No, the bowl is hot—my ability’s temperature is high.”
Seeing his confusion, she added, “I meant pass me the noodles.”
Realization dawned, and Yu Yang quickly complied—though he accidentally handed her the one originally meant for her.
Nan Fei didn’t mind and continued heating the water.
Once all the noodles were ready, she set the bowl aside.
“Why can your fire heat water without showing flames?” Yu Hong, who had been mostly silent, finally asked.
“My ability is fire. I can control not only flames but also the heat they generate. I just need to warm my hand directly to heat water without visible fire.”
She explained calmly. This wasn’t her idea originally.
In her previous special department, fire-type ability users were common. With multiple users sharing knowledge—and the “brains team” assigned to them—it was a widely used technique.
Everyone understood.
Eating hot, fragrant instant noodles, their expressions finally relaxed.
Nan Fei also felt properly full at last.
After eating and drinking, no one felt like moving. As night fell, Qin Ze decided on everyone’s preference—they would rest in the supermarket for the night.